Meet Our Staff
		Karla David-Marshall General Manager Karla is an Aerobic & Fitness Association of America certified Advanced Personal Trainer and Group Fitness Instructor. A graduate of the Fashion Institute of Technology, Karla has been involved in the fitness industry for 12 years. She works with clients of all levels of fitness on a one on one basis to help them achieve their goals but feels especially rewarded working with individuals that are new to fitness. Her goal is to make fitness achievable and rewarding for all populations.
		Emily McKinnon Fitness Director/Fitness Specialist Emily is a graduate of Ohio University where she received her BFA in Dance and Choreography. She is also a nationally certified personal trainer through the Aerobics and Fitness Association of America. Emily takes great pleasure in working with a variety of clientele ranging from post-surgery rehab patients to seniors and student athletes. Emily performs and teaches professionally in the NY/NJ area and enjoys incorporating her dance background into her fitness training.
		Angel L. Montañez Group Fitness Director/Fitness Specialist Angel has a BS in Biology from Montclair State University and is a certified personal trainer through ACE. As director of group fitness, Angel's approach to fitness is energetic as well as attentive. His focus is varying workouts to create innovative and motivating fitness programs. Angel is currently pursuing a Master's in Athletic Training at Seton Hall University.
		Bernadette Smith Fitness Specialist Bernadette is first-class certified through NFPT and has been a personal trainer and group exercise instructor for 14 years. She had worked as a trainer, teacher and director in the Hamptons and North East Pennsylvania prior to joining the Palisades team. Bernadette successfully develops programs for men and women at all levels of ability.
		Norman Alkawas                    Fitness Specialist Norman is a personal trainer certified by the National Endurance & Sports Trainers Association. He helps individuals achieve their goals in all aspects of fitness including strength and conditioning, weight loss, sports conditioning, and body building. A graduate of George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia, he enjoys baseball, softball, snowboarding, and traveling.
		Jessica Strasser Fitness Specialist Jessica is a personal trainer certified by W.I.T.S. She has earned her Associates Degree and is currently in pursuit of her BS in Dietetics at Montclair State University. Jessica enjoys working with individuals with a variety of fitness goals including weight loss and increased muscle and core strength. Jessica is also a group fitness instructor teaching classes such as Kickboxing, Body Sculpt, BOSU Training, and Ease Into Exercise. She believes a person will commit to fitness once they have found an activity that is fun and challenging. Jessica enjoys dancing, boxing, concerts, and traveling.
		Thomas Rachelski              Fitness Specialist Tom is personal training certified from NASM and ISSA. From 2003 to 2004, he worked in Kuwait with the 3rd Army 228 MCD training soldiors in his unit that performed poorly on the Army Physical Fitness Test (APFT). Upon returning he Tom adopted his training to create functional training programs that could benefit athletes and businessmen alike. Tom is also trained in Myofascial Stretching (MFS) and ELDOA spinal stretching techniques, both of which can be beneficial to someone working at a desk all day. His hobbies include snowboarding and mixed martial arts/Brazilian Jui-Jitsu
		Chris ReyesGavilan                 Fitness Specialist Certified through FiTOUR, Chris is pursuing his BS in Athletic Training and Psychology at Montclair State University and intends to work in the medical field thereafter. Taking part in and instructing various baseball clinics on the east coast have been a great experience and expanded his training techniques. Chris enjoys working with a wide variety of individuals and trying new things in the fitness center.
		Hector Lopez                          Fitness Specialist Hector Graduated from Rutgers University with a BS in Exercise Science. He is a member of NSCA and attained his certification as a Certified Strength and Conditioning Coach (CSCS). Hector has also worked in physical therapy for the past three years as a PT aide as he aspires to become a physical therapist. His approach to personal training and rehabilitation is that one can never learn too much and that each new experience is a step towards becoming a better professional in the health field. Hector enjoys playing a variety of sports including basketball, racquetball, and baseball.
		Doug Drohan                          Fitness Specialist Doug is a certified personal trainer through the national academy of Sports Medicine as well as the International Sports Science Association. He is also a certified Prenatal Fitness Trainer. He believes in bringing his clients into a "fitness lifestyle" designing a program that is safe, effective, and fun. Prior to becoming a fitness trainer Doug studied martial arts and was also a physical education coach at Allen Stevenson and Trinity School in NYC. Doug attended Aston University in Great Britain and graduated from Baruch College with a BA in Marketing.
		Will Concho                            Fitness Specialist  Will is an ACE certified personal trainer. He is currently attending William Paterson University and pursuing a BS in Nursing. Will's affinity for human anatomy and function is his inspiration. His belief is that one can never know too much about your body. His "whatever-it-takes" approach is what drives him to helping clients meet and exceed their goals. Will's enthusiastic about many sports but mainly enjoys playing soccer for his club team. He also practices boxing and martial arts.
		Danny Guzman                   Fitness Specialist Danny is a certified personal trainer through ACE. and has a BS in Kinesiology with a concentration in Sports Medicine & Health /Fitness from the University of Maine. Danny has extensive experience working with Division I college athletes and a variety of individuals including elders and those with specific medical needs. He understands individually customized programs combined with supervision and practical information is the key to achieving any health and fitness goal. Danny provides motivation to keep his clients positive and focused. He plans to pursue a career in Law Enforcement or as a certified strength & conditioning specialist for a professional sports team.
		Elisa Seda                       Fitness Specialist Elisa is a graduate of Berklee College of Music where she received her BA in Drumming Performance & Music Business. She is a certified personal trainer through the National Endurance and Sports Training Association. Elisa helps her clients achieve a variety of their fitness goals including strength and conditioning, weight loss, and sports specific training. She takes her love of exercise and applies it to her drumming in her book "Drummer's Guide to Exercise & Nutrition: On & Off Tour" (Soon to be released). In her spare time, Elisa enjoys concerts, martial arts, football, and soccer.